ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Prime Minister's Office
PM leads consultation and brain-storming on the way forward for budget announcements through 11 webinars
PM participates in 11 budget related webinars
These webinars saw participation of 40 thousand stakeholders
Entrepreneurs, MSMEs, exporters, global investors, startups, etc participated in the webinars along with Central & State Governments
Very fruitful inputs and suggestions received by Government for effective implementation of budget
These webinars helped create a sense of ownership among stakeholders and ensure time-bound implementation
Today, PM addressed the webinar for discussing budget related announcements of DIPAM. This culminates the series of 11 budget related webinars that the PM addressed. PM participated budget webinar relating to ministries/deparments of Higher Education, Rural Development, Agriculture, Defence, Health, DPIIT, PSA, MNRE, DEA and DIPAM. The Union Budget-2022 has made several announcements for the economic growth of the country and to further the well-being of our people. These webinars were conducted with the objective of sustaining momentum of the Budget and to create a sense of ownership by all stakeholders in its implementation, These webinars have covered a diverse spectrum of subjects like SMART agriculture, PM Gatishakti, Aatmanirbharta in defence, digital education and dynamic skilling, inclusive and equitable healthcare delivery, Make in India and financing for aspirational economy etc.
The main objectives for organizing the webinars were developing a sense of ownership among the key stakeholders for the Budget. This exercise will also help ministries and departments to hit the ground running as soon as the new fiscal year begins & also ensure time-bound implementation. Consultation with various stakeholders helps bring their practical/ global expertise and experience and to identify lacunae. The shifting of budget to 1st February and these interactions in the webinars enables state governments get better visibility of priorities and thus plan their budgets better.
The webinars saw an estimated participation of around 40 thousand stakeholders which included entrepreneurs, MSMEs, exporters, global investors, representatives of the Central and State governments, youth from the world of startups, among others. Comprehensive panel discussions and theme-based break-out sessions were organized during each webinar. A large number of valuable suggestions have been received by the Government during these webinars, which will further aid in effective implementation of the Budget announcements.
Ministry of Defence
EXERCISE NASEEM AL BAHR - 2022 SEA PHASE
The Indian Navy’s guided missile stealth frigate, INS Trikand, offshore patrol vessel, INS Sumitra, and Maritime Patrol Aircraft,  Dornier, participated in the 13th Edition of the Indian Navy  - Royal Navy of Oman  bilateral exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ .
The exercise was conducted from 19 to 24 Nov 22 off the coast of Oman and had three phases: harbour phase, sea phase and debrief. Activities undertaken during the harbour phase included professional interactions between IN and RNO operations teams and friendly sports fixtures between the two navies. IN Ships Trikand and Sumitra, along with RNO Ships Al Shinas and Al Seeb, sailed for the sea phase. IN - MPA Dornier, RNO MPA and shore based RAFO fighter aircraft Hawks joined the exercise at sea.
The sea phase included tactical maritime exercise involving surface action, air defence, maritime surveillance and interdiction/VBSS. These operations helped in strengthening interoperability as well as enhancing understanding of each other’s procedures. The last phase of exercise, debrief, was conducted at the RNO Naval Base at Duqm on 23 Nov 22.
India and Oman have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations, sharing common cultural values. Naval exercises have added strength and substance to these bilateral ties. The first IN-RNO exercise was conducted in 1993. This year marks 30 years of IN-RNO bilateral exercises.
INS Trikand, a frontline frigate, is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors. The ship is a part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, based at Mumbai. INS Sumitra, a multirole offshore patrol vessel is part of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy, based at Visakhapatnam.
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Ministry of Earth Sciences
The northern Limit of southwest monsoon  continues to pass through, Barmer, Bhilwara, Dholpur, Aligarh, Meerut, Ambala and Amritsar
According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department :

ALL INDIA WEATHER SUMMARY AND FORECAST BULLETIN
- The northern Limit of southwest monsoon  continues to pass through Lat. 26°N / Long. 70°E, Barmer, Bhilwara, Dholpur, Aligarh, Meerut, Ambala and Amritsar.
- Further advance of southwest monsoon into remaining parts of Rajasthan, west Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and Punjab is likely to be slow as large scale features are not favourable and the forecast wind pattern by the numerical models do not indicate any favourable condition for sustained rainfall over the region during the forecast period.
- Under the influence of lower level wind convergence and monsoonal easterly and southeasterly wind and a trough in westerlies in middle tropospheric levels over the region; fairly widespread rainfall very likely over Odisha, West Bengal & Sikkim, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar during next 5 days. Isolated Heavy rainfall also likely over Odisha and Sub Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during next 5 days; over Chhattisgarh during 23rd to 25th, over Gangetic West Bengal, southeast Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand on 23rd, and over Bihar on 26th & 27th June, 2021. Isolated Very Heavy Rainfall also likely over Odisha on 25th and Chhattisgarh on 23rd, June, 2021.
- Under the influence of strengthening of moist southwesterly winds; fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is likely over Northeast India during next 5 days. Isolated heavy rainfall very likely over Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram during next 5 days and over Arunachal Pradesh on 25th June, 2021.
- Moderate to severe thunderstorms accompanied by frequent cloud to ground lightning very likely over Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh during next 24 hours. This may cause injuries leading to casualties to people and animals staying outdoors.

Kindly download MAUSAM APP for location specific forecast & warning, MEGHDOOT APP for Agromet advisory and DAMINI APP for Lightning Warning & visit state MC/RMC websites for district wise warning.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Millet Production
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare  is implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals  under National Food Security Mission  to enhance area, production & productivity of millets including bajra. Under this Sub-Mission, bajra is being promoted in 89 districts of 9 states including 14 districts of Gujarat. North Eastern States, Himachal Pradesh and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have been given flexibility to include the districts under programme. Through the efforts made by the Government, the production of millets has increased from 14.52 million tonnes in 2015-16 to 17.96 million tonnes in 2020-21. The production of bajra has also increased from 8.07 million tonnes to 10.86 million tonnes during the same period. The State Governments can also promote cultivation of millets and bajra under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture & Allied sector Rejuvenation  with the approval of the State Level Sanctioning Committee  constituted under the chairmanship of the chief secretary of the State.
In view of the nutritional value of the millets, the Government has notified millets as nutri-cereals in April, 2018. The Millets are a rich source of Protein, Fibre, Minerals, Iron, Calcium and have a low glycemic index. The National Year of Millets was celebrated in 2018. To create domestic and global demand and to provide nutritional food to the people, Government of India had proposed to United Nations for declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets . The proposal of India was supported by 72 countries and United Nation’s General Assembly  declared 2023 as International Year of Millets in March, 2021. The Government is popularizing nutri-cereals through Research & Development support and has established 3 Centres of Excellence . Support is also given to start-ups and entrepreneurs for developing recipes & value added products that promotes consumption of millets. 8 bio-fortified varieties/hybrids of Bajra have been released for cultivation from 2018 to till date.
In order to facilitate the movement of the millets, Government has already revised the guidelines for movement of the surplus production of millets to other states. The provision of inter-state transportation of surplus millets through Food Corporation of India  is incorporated to cater for advance demand placed by consuming state before the start of procurement.
This information was given by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Finance
Government to roll out facility to file NIL Form GSTR-1 through SMS from first week of July
In a major move towards GST taxpayers’ facilitation, the Government has decided to provide the facility of SMS filing of NIL statement of FORM GSTR-1 from 1st week of July 2020.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs  said that the filing of NIL statement in FORM GSTR-1 also through SMS would substantially improve ease of GST compliance for over 12 lakh registered taxpayers. At present, these taxpayers have to log into their account on the common portal and then file their statement of outward supplies in FORM GSTR-1 every month or each quarter.
GST taxpayers with NIL outward supplies would not be required to log on to the GST Portal and would be able to file their NIL statement in FORM GSTR-1 through just an SMS. The status confirmation of the filed statement or return application can be tracked by them on the GST Portal by logging in to their GSTIN account and navigating to Services>Returns>Track Return Status.
It may be noted that the facility to file NIL monthly GSTR-3B return through SMS has already been made available since 8th June 2020. Taxpayers who have NIL FORM GSTR-3B return to file may avail the SMS facility.
To initiate the SMS facility, the taxpayers who wish to file Nil statement in their FORM GSTR-1 are to send SMS to 14409 as NIL<space>R1<space>GSTIN number<space>Tax period . For example: NIL R1 09XXXXXXXXXXXZC 042020  or NIL R1 09XXXXXXXXXXXZC 062020 .
After this, they will get a six-digit code with validity up to 30 minutes and can confirm their Nil statement filing by sending: CNF<space>R1<space> CODE to 14409. On successful code validation, return will be filed and taxpayers will be receiving an Acknowledgement number through SMS.
By using the similar steps taxpayers can file their NIL return in FORM GSTR-3B also however they need to use 3B instead of R1 in their SMS to 14409. For more details, one may visit ‘help’ at: www.gst.gov.in
Cabinet
Cabinet approves MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, Bahrain
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has approved Memorandum of Understanding  between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India  and Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance , Bahrain to work together to strengthen the accounting, financial and audit knowledge base within Bahrain.
Salient Features:
- ICAI will provide technical assistance to BIBF by reviewing the current curriculum of BIBF related to accounting and finance;
- ICAI will recommend introduction of its CA Course curriculum that will facilitate BIBF students to write ICAI's Examination with an aim to acquire membership of ICAI;
- ICAI will provide technical assistance in holding ICAI's professional examination for qualified BIBF students;
The MoU will provide an opportunity to the ICAI members to expand their professional horizon and simultaneously ICAI will become an entity to aid strengthen building of local national capabilities.
The aim is to work together to develop a mutually beneficial relationship in the best interest of members, students and their organizations.
Beneficiaries:
Since Bahrain does not have a local professional accountancy Institute and it is the ICAI which has the collaboration with BIBF, this in turn is likely to build positive impact for Indian Chartered Accountants currently working in Bahraini markets and those intending to move to this country relatively easier. Bahrain having the confidence in the credibility and the ability of ICAI, is desirous of ICAI's assistance in promoting and developing its own nationals in area of accounting and auditing performance thus addressing issue of creating a base of competent accounting professionals to pave the way for gradual skill development in accountancy.
Background:
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India  is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, ‘The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949', to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance  was founded in 1981 to provide the training and development of human capital in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
A Jordanian Delegation led by Minister of Investment, H.E. Mr. Kheiry Yaser Abdel-Monim Amr call on Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare & Chemicals and Fertilisers
“Responsible pricing of fertilizers should be done to ensure food security amid the geopolitical global developments”
A Jordanian Delegation led by their Minister of Investment, H.E. Mr. Kheiry Yaser Abdel-Monim Amr called on Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare & Chemicals and Fertilisers on 22nd March 2022 in his office and discussed subjects of mutual interest specially relating to supply of Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers and raw materials from Jordan to India.
The dignitaries from Jordan alluded warmly to the historic trade-ties between the two countries. The strategic partnership forged by Indian companies like IFFCO and IPL with the largest fertilizer company of Jordan i.e. Jordan Phosphate Mines Company  was also appreciated by the Jordanian Minister.
Welcoming the Jordanian delegation, Dr. Mandaviya referred to the present geopolitical global situation and appealed not only to Jordan but other countries like Morocco to responsively price their fertilisers as these are inputs for food security.
The Chairman, JPMC, Dr. Mohammad Thenibat suggested that India and Jordan should mutually devise a treaty for economic cooperation. The Jordanian Minister expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his India visit and the business MOUs to be signed with some of the Indian companies in coming days. He also extended an invitation to Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers to visit Jordan in May 2022 to expand and consolidate the existing ties of Indian companies and explore further business opportunities.
Besides Phosphatic fertilisers and raw materials, Jordan is also a regular supply source of MOP to India. The Jordanian Minister agreed to lend his good offices to get long term MOUs executed by Jordanian companies for Rock Phosphate, DAP and MOP with IFFCO and IPL.
Senior officials of the Department of Fertilisers, Ministry of External Affairs and representatives of IFFCO and IPL etc were also present.
The Alternative Mechanism comprising of its Chairperson, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley and Cabinet Ministers, Shri Piyush Goyal and Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman met here today in New Delhi and decided that Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank may consider amalgamation of the three banks. The envisaged amalgamation will be the First-ever three-way consolidation of banks in India, with a combined business of Rs. 14.82 lakh crore, making it India’s Third Largest Bank.
The consolidation will help create a strong globally competitive bank with economies of scale and enable realisation of wide-ranging synergies. Leveraging of networks, low-cost deposits and subsidiaries of the three banks has the potential of yielding significant synergies for positioning the consolidated entity for substantial rise in customer base, market reach, operational efficiency, wider bouquet of products and services, and improved access for customers.
Some of the strengths of the envisaged amalgamated entity are—
· Provision Coverage Ratio  at 67.5% is well above Public Sector Banks  average , and steadily increasing
· Net NPA ratio at 5.71% significantly better than PSB average , and declining further
· Gross NPAs for the combined entity have started declining 
· Cost to income ratio of the combined entity at 48.94% better than the PSB average of 53.92%
· Dena Bank’s strength in MSME will further augment the strength of the other two to position the amalgamated bank for being an MSME Udyamimitra
· Capital Adequacy Ratio  at 12.25% is significantly above the regulatory norm of 10.875%, and stronger amalgamated bank will be better positioned to tap capital markets
· Significant cost benefits from synergies: Larger distribution network will reduce operating and distribution costs with benefits for the amalgamated bank, its customers and their subsidiaries
· Global network strength of Bank of Baroda will be leveraged to enable customers of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank to have global access
· Access improvement through amalgamation of networks
· Wider range of products and services through leveraging of bank subsidiaries and leveraging of a larger network for offering more value-added non-banking services and products
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Our para athletes are our strength says Shri Kiren Rijiju; Devendra Jhajharia thanks government for para-friendly sporting infrastructure
Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju attended a virtual session on the occasion of 29th World Disability Day on Thursday in the presence of Paralympic Committee of India  President Deepa Malik, revered Indian Para Athletes Devendra Jhajharia, Parul Parmar and Shatabdi Awasthi, Secretary General, PCI Shri Gursharan Singh and Chief Patron, PCI Shri Avinash Rai Khanna.
Shri Rijiju mentioned that the Para Athletes are the strength and the source of inspiration for everyone in the country and the Sports Ministry is leaving no stone unturned to support them. “Our Para Athletes and ‘Divyang’ warriors are our strength. They give us inspiration. In our Sports Ministry, there is no difference between an able and a differently-abled sportsperson. We felicitate them with the same amount of recognition, prize money and so on,” the Sports Minister said.
Shri Rijiju also added that he will request the State Governments to support the Paralympians in their respective region in the best possible way. “I will request the respective State Governments to have a policy for the ‘Divyang’ warriors like the Central Government has contributed, to support the Paralympians in the best way possible, from financial to coaching and training facilities to proper livelihood and so on. The Government, the PCI and everyone are a team and we need to carry on our work of supporting our Para Athletes.”
Padma Shri, Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awardee Devendra Jhajharia thanked the Government for their immense contribution in always helping the Para Athletes in a swift manner. “Whenever we send a mail to the Government stating our problems or things we need, we get a reply within an hour. I look at most training centres across India and feel so happy that the next generation of Para Athletes will have no problem as the infrastructure and facilities are already in place. We cannot be more thankful to the Government and especially our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who has asked everyone not to call us ‘Viklang’, but ‘Divyang’. This has been an immense motivation booster for all of us,” Jhajharia said.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Trade Deficit Between India and China
The details of export/import and trade deficit between India and China during the last three financial years and current financial year are given below: -
|
|
Financial Year
|
|
Trade in Million US$
|
|
Trade Deficit
|
|
EXPORT
|
|
IMPORT
|
|
2017-18
|
|
13333.53
|
|
76380.70
|
|
63047.16
|
|
2018-19
|
|
16752.20
|
|
70319.64
|
|
53567.43
|
|
2019-20
|
|
16612.75
|
|
65260.75
|
|
48647.99
|
|
2020-21|
|
13639.18
|
|
38817.90
|
|
25178.72Provisionl
The Government of India has made sustained efforts to achieve a more balanced trade with China, including bilateral engagements to address the non tariff barriers on Indian exports to China. Through these efforts, various protocols have been signed to facilitate export of Indian rice, tobacco, fishmeal /fish oil and chilli meal from India to China. The Government has also taken various measures to extend support to exporters by facilitating Buyers Seller Meets between potential importers of China and the Indian exporters to increase exports. In addition, Indian exporters are encouraged to participate in major trade fairs to showcase Indian products.
The Government has taken theinitiative to sensitize the Export Promotion Councils /Trade Bodies to enhance export of Indian goods.
The Government has also implemented policies to promote domestic manufacturing through ease of doing business and creating an enabling physical environment for manufacturing, through provision of developed land and infrastructure.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Finance
Auction for Sale  of ‘5.22% GS 2025’, Auction for Sale  of ‘6.19% GS 2034’, and Auction for Sale  of ‘7.16% GS 2050’.
The Government of India has announced the Sale  of  ‘5.22 percent Government Stock, 2025’ for a notified amount of Rs 8,000 crore  through price based auction,  ‘6.19 percent Government Stock, 2034’ for a notified amount of Rs 12,000 crore  through price based auction, and  ‘7.16 per cent Government Stock, 2050’ for a notified amount of Rs 8,000 crore  through price based auction. GoI will have the option to retain additional subscription up to Rs 2,000 crore against each of the above securities. The auctions will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Office, Fort, Mumbai on October 16, 2020  using multiple price method.
Up to 5% of the notified amount of the sale of the stocks will be allotted to eligible individuals and Institutions as per the Scheme for Non-Competitive Bidding Facility in the Auction of Government Securities.
Both competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution  system on October 16, 2020. The non-competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. and the competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.
The result of the auctions will be announced on October 16  and payment by successful bidders will be on October 19 .
The Stocks will be eligible for “When Issued” trading in accordance with the guidelines on ‘When Issued transactions in Central Government Securities’ issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide circular No. RBI/2018-19/25 dated July 24, 2018 as amended from time to time.